"In no uncertain terms, Santiago Solari’s Real Madrid is struggling. The January transfer window, however, provides a chance for Florentino Pérez to invest in the squad, which many believe he failed to do effectively after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in the summer."
Lionel Messi has made 27 direct goal contributions in La Liga this season (16 goals and 11 assists), which is one more than Real’s overall total of 26.
Whether this is because Ronaldo was not sufficiently replaced by Perez with the signing of Mariano Díaz, or whether it is because Gareth Bale has struggled with injuries or that Karim Benzema is evidently fatigued, goals must be found from somewhere.
However, what also cannot be ignored is Solari’s side’s poor defensive record so far. 23 goals have been shipped so far, which is more than any of the other teams in the top seven and the same as 18th-placed Villarreal.
Thibaut Courtois has been in excellent from after signing from Chelsea, and his understudy, Keylor Navas, is, many would argue, only challenged by Barcelona’s Jasper Cillessen to be the best reserve goalkeeper there is.
And, given that the strongest back four of Dani Carvajal, Raphaël Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo has been the same since the former first deputised for Álvaro Arbeloa in the 2013-14 season, the reason for the defensive frailty cannot come down to ability.
It comes down to fatigue. Varane played every minute of France’s victorious World Cup campaign last summer and was only rested for the first La Liga game of the season, against Getafe, by Julen Lopetegui.
He suffered a tear to his abductor muscle in November as a result.
Meanwhile, the biggest clubs around Europe handed extended breaks to their players returning from the latter stages in Russia.
Varane’s evident fatigue led to uncharacteristic performances, which saw him apologise to Lopetegui after he was sacked in the wake of October’s 5-1 defeat to Barcelona.
But, Solari appears to have no other option but to continue to use him. Jesus Vallejo has played only solitary games in the Copa del Rey and FIFA Club World Cup, pointing to a combination of an evident mistrust in him and injury problems, and Nacho Fernández has largely been used as a full-back so far this season when called upon.
Gone are the days of being able to call upon Pepe or Ricardo Carvalho to shore up the defence.
Christian Eriksen has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium from Tottenham Hotspur, but would a new attacking midfielder help Solari and his side’s cause? Asensio, Isco, Dani Ceballos, Martin Ødegaard and newly-signed Brahim Díaz would argue no.
Instead, a centre-back is a necessity. Kostas Manolas, who has a release clause of around €30 million from his Roma contract, would therefore be an astute signing.
The key to rotating a squad is being able to maintain a high performance level, and Manolas would certainly do that. Per 90 minutes this season, he has made more clearances (3.8) than Ramos (3.2) and Varane (3.5)
He has made more interceptions (1.7) than the club captain (1.5) and the Frenchman (1.2) and can also be a threat in the opposing penalty area, with a goal against Atalanta and an assist against Cagliari to prove it.
Another centre-back potentially ready to leave his club is Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian, though, appears to be set on a move to Manchester United.
In any case, Manolas has made more tackles per 90 minutes (1.1) compared to his Spurs counterpart (0.9).
Alderweireld’s move to Old Trafford would total around €25 million, but he has also made less interceptions (0.8) than the Roma centre-back (1.7). In short, Real would be getting their money’s worth by signing the Greece international.
He would provide much-needed cover behind Ramos and, aged 27, is a long-term replacement for the 32-year-old club captain. He would not come to Spain’s capital happy to be a reserve, you would imagine, so would force Solari’s trusted pair to up their games or find themselves on the substitutes’ bench.